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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  20. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  21. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. charge — in control
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. charge — electricity
  6. net — in sport
  7. can — a tin
  8. charge — a price
  9. clip — for paper
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. can — to be able to
  12. field — for sport
  13. rash — hasty
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. net — after costs
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. clip — a video
  18. can — a tin
  19. clip — to cut
  20. field — a subject
  21. field — farmland
  22. net — for catching
  23. rash — a series
  24. safe — out of danger

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com